K-State senior Hanz Harker hit a three-run home run on his way to a career-high four RBI while freshman Jordan Maxson and sophomore Cameron Thompson each drove in three in a 15-10 victory over Austin Peay Tuesday night at Tointon Family Stadium. That’s according to a release from K-State Athletics.
Harker’s fifth-inning homer, his first of the season, gave K-State (12-8) a 12-7 lead and capped a five-run inning for the Wildcats. Thompson delivered a go-ahead two-run double earlier in the inning that put the Cats in front for good.
“We had guys on base, so I was looking middle-in, something I could do damage with and he put it there and I put a good swing on it,” Harker said of his home run.
“Hanz had a big hit and Cam’s double was big, too, to give us a little bit of breathing room,” head coach Brad Hill said.
A total of six K-State hitters – including Harker, Maxson and Thompson – turned in two-hit games while four recorded multiple RBI. Maxson’s three RBI are a career high.
Senior first baseman Trent McMaster was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in. Sophomore leadoff hitter Will Brennan was also 2-for-4 and scored three times as he extended his on-base streak to 43 games.
K-State plated four runs in the first inning but saw its lead evaporate after a five-run fourth inning put Austin Peay (13-8) in front 6-5. APSU scored all five runs in the fourth with two outs.
Austin Peay starting pitcher Kyle Wilson walked the first three Wildcat batters he faced to load the bases for Maxson, who delivered a three-run single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by McMaster.
Wilson left the game after one inning, walking four and allowing four runs (three earned).
Thompson and Maxson each drove in a run in the home fourth to regain a one-run lead for the Cats only to see the Governors level the game 7-7 in the top of the fifth. K-State’s five-run fifth inning saw four hits and 10 Wildcat batters come to the plate.
The Cats scored in six of eight innings it came to bat and posted multiple runs in four separate innings, including three straight (4th-6th).
APSU second baseman Garrett Giovannelli and shortstop Garrett Kueber each led the Govs with four hits while catcher Alex Sala was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Giovannelli scored four times while Sala scored three times.
K-State reliever Hudson Treu was credited with the victory, his first of the year, after going two innings and allowing three hits and two earned runs.
Wildcat starter Quinton Potter left the game in the fourth inning, going 3 2/3 innings and striking out five while yielding six earned runs on eight hits.
Freshman reliever Jaxson Passino tossed the game’s final 2 1/3 innings without surrendering an earned run.
The Governors’ Greg Leban suffered the loss after giving up five earned runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings.
Austin Peay hit .545 (12-for-22) with two outs and had seven two-out RBI. K-State drove in five runs with two outs and hit .286 (4-for-14).
K-State wraps up its midweek set with Austin Peay on Wednesday at Tointon Family Stadium with first pitch slated for 12 p.m. The matchup can be seen on ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Fans can also listen live on KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM).
